Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 14

Author: Bowen, A.W., & Co., firm, publishers, Chicago
Publication date: [19-?]
Publisher: Chicago : A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1374

USA > Montana > Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1 > Part 14

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Babcock is a zealous and ardent Republican, and has been active and prominent in the councils of his party. He has been chairman of its county central committee during a number of campaigns and has been its choice for representative posi- tions from time to time, having served as chairman of the board of commissioners of Yellowstone county from 1885 to 1889, and was elected to the state senate in 1889, and served in the lower house from 1892 to '94, and again in the senate from '94 to '98. He was an influential member of the com- mittee on arid lands, and on other important com- mittees. He has served on the military staffs of Govs. White, Toole and Rickards with the rank of colonel. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, including lodge, chapter, com- mandery and Mystic Shrine. In this order he has filled several local chairs in the various bodies, and was chosen grand commander of the grand com- mandery of Knights Templar of the state in 1894. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, serving as the first exalted ruler of Billings Lodge. Mr. Babcock was married on September 12, 1877, to Miss Antoinette Packer, of Pontiac, Ill. They have one son, Lewis C., a graduate of Shallock Military School of Minnesota, and of the Univer- sity of Chicago, and although young in business,

he has taken an active position in directing the business of the A. L. Babcock Hardware Company and is exhibiting promise of developing much of the versatility and mercantile and fiscal capacity of his father.

(APT. ALEXANDER F. BURNS, one of the five surviving members of the Montana terri- torial constitutional convention of 1889, is a resi- dent of Helena. He was born in Clay county, Mo., December 7, 1832. His parents were Jeremiah and Jane (Sampson) Burns, natives of Virginia and Kentucky. The father, a farmer, removed to How- ard county, Mo., in 1818, then to Clay county and later to Andrew county, where he died. Jeremiah's father was a Presbyterian minister and a chaplain in the Revolution. Captain Burns had four broth- ers and four sisters, and one sister resides in Mon- tana. Capt. Burns was reared and educated in Mis- souri, and in 1852 he removed to California and engaged in mining in the northeast portion of the then territory for three years. He made the out- ward trip across the plains, a perilous one in those days, and returned by the Panama route and New Orleans. In 1861 Capt. Burns enlisted in the First Missouri Confederate Cavalry, and was in service under Gen. Price until the close of the war. Dur- ing those eventful four years he participated in the battles of Blue Mills Landing, Lexington, Mo., Pea Ridge, Corinth (two engagements), Iuka, Cham- pion Hills, Vicksburg and the campaign in Georgia against Sherman, Altoona Pass, and was captured at Franklin, Tenn. During his active service he rose to the rank of captain and was twice wounded, in 1862 and in 1864. After his capture he was a prisoner of war on Johnson's Island until the close of the war.

On the return of peace Capt. Burns went to Ne- braska City, and in 1866 came to Helena, being among the earliest of the pioneers of Montana. Through 1867 and 1868 he prosecuted mining along Dry Gulch, near Helena, but in 1868 he engaged in farming down the valley, which he has successfully followed. Capt. Burns was united in marriage in Missouri to Miss Ann Kennison, a native of Vir- ginia, in 1856. They have seven children living, Edward B., Jeremiah D., William K., Albert A., Carrie A., now Mrs. Norton: Anna V. and Me- dora A. Capt. Burns was a Democrat until 1894, when he became a Populist. He was elected to the

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

Montana constitutional convention of 1889, and served on the committee on railroads. In 1890 he was elected to the legislature and served in the lower house. Capt. Burns has ever been a broad- minded, public-spirited and progressive man. On coming to Montana he threw himself heart and soul into the work of building up this grand common- wealth, and few men have done more for that pur- pose. His political and business careers have been above reproach, and he enjoys the confidence of a large circle of acquaintances throughout the state. Socially, financially and politically, he has been eminently successful.

REV. CHARLES L. BOVARD .- Through all ages of the world's history, and in every land, priests and ministers, the men who preside over the sacred altars, and have special charge of what their people regard as holy, have been held in the highest esteem and veneration. The priestly office in its very nature, because of its important functions and the lofty character of the interests which engage it, is above the people and invested with a sort of sa- cred awe, whether it have to do with the rites of a pagan mythology, the superstitions of the savage, or the living and vitalizing faith which springs from Divine revelation. Moreover, its occupantsare, with rare exceptions, men of such character, intel- ligence and zeal, that of themselves they would win and hold the respect and admiration of their fel- lows.

Rev. Charles Lincoln Bovard, pastor of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church of Helena, has this dual claim on the high regard of his flock and the community. Both by his calling and his manner of performing its important duties, he has secured an exalted place in the good opinion and affection- ate esteem of the people of Helena. His useful life began October 10, 1860, at Alpha, Scott county, Ind. His parents, James and Sarah (Cougler) Bo- vard, natives of Ohio. removed to Indiana in early youth. In their family there were twelve children, of whom six sons are ordained ministers of the Methodist Episcopal church, and well educated for their vocation. The Bovard family has long been distinguished for strong religious conviction and judicious zeal for the advancement of their faith. They were among the devout and law abiding Huguenots who were driven from France by the re-

ligious wars following the revocation of the edict of Nantes in the seventeenth century. They took refuge in the north of Ireland, and from there three brothers of the name came to the United States early in the last century and settled in Pennsylvania. James Bovard, father of Rev. Charles, was an in- dustrious and frugal farmer, but as the roof tree sheltered the inconvenient conjunction of a large family and a small income, it was necessary for each to bear his part in the work about the farm. Charles was ambitious to become something more than or, at least different from, a farmer, and to this end was studious and observant. As soon as his indus- try in study and mental aptitude had brought him the necessary scholastic training, he engaged in teaching in the public schools, thereby securing means to pay his way in college. His object was to . fit himself for teaching in a more advanced capac- ity, and therefore, before completing the course at Hanover College, Ind., at which he had matricu- lated, he left that institution and entered the Nor- mal Collegiate Institute at Lexington, Ind., from which he was graduated in 1882. After his grad- uation he taught a year in his alma mater, and the next year was married and entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Rev. Mr. Bovard's first charge was at Holman, where he remained two years. He was then sta- tioned at North Vernon for three years, and from there went to Vevay, and remained two years. ( All of these pastorates being in Indiana.) He was then appointed missionary to Tucson, Ariz., but after passing six months at this post of labor, Bishop Mallalieu made him superintendent of the New Mexico English mission, a position he held for a full term of six years, although at the time he was the youngest superintendent of missions in his church connection, being scarcely thirty years of age. From New Mexico he was transferred to LaPorte, Ind., and from there, after two years' ser- vice, to Helena, Mont., taking charge of the pastor- ate of St. Paul's church in 1892.

In all the elements and attributes of his sacred profession Rev. Mr. Bovard is an honor to the Christian ministry and an inspiration to struggling humanity. As an advocate of his faith and in re- proof of wrong, he is fearless, frank and forcible. As a pulpit orator he is eloquent, logical and con- vincing. Although averse to controversy, when drawn into disputation he is keen, resourceful and aggressive. And as a pastor, his wealth of human sympathy, his knowledge of human character, his

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

practical judgment, his richness of imagination and his devotion to his Master's cause, make him pre- eminently serviceable and successful.

Rev. Mr. Bovard was united in marriage at Lex- ington, Ind., January 30, 1883, with Miss Clamenta Smith, who had been his schoolmate at the normal institute, and was graduated from the same school. She subsequently took a thorough course of instruc- tion in music at New Albany, Ind., conservatory. They have two sons, William Z., born April I, 1886, and Carl V., born October 29, 1889. Frater- nally Mr. Bovard is connected with the Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Pythias. In addition to his ministerial and pastoral work, he is a fre- quent contributor to the various church periodicals of his denomination.

Jº OHN BYRNE .- Holding official precedence in connection with that industry which served to gain Montana recognition and led to the establish- ing of a prosperous commonwealth, Mr. Byrne, the present state superintendent of mines, stands prominent among Montana's able officials. Born in picturesque old Wicklow county, Ireland, on Au- gust 1, 1865, the son of James and Margaret Byrne, natives of the same county and where they passed their entire lives, John Byrne is a fine repre- sentative of staunch old families of the Emerald Isle. His father was a railroad contractor, a man of strong intellectual powers and sterling character. He had four sons, all of whom came to the United States, while Montana claims three of the number as citizens.

John Byrne, the immediate subject of this re- view, was reared and educated in his native land, whence he came to America in 1880, first locating in New York city. In 1882 he went to Leadville, Colo., where he was identified with silver mining for a period of two years, coming thence to Butte, Mont., where he was variously employed until 1897. He was for a time shift boss for the Anaconda Company, and later held position as foreman at Walkerville. The same year he received from Governor Smith appointment as state inspector of mines for Montana, and was re-appointed by Gov- ernor Toole on February 13, 1901, having thor- oughly proved his fitness for the office by able ad- ministration of its affairs. While a resident of Butte Mr. Byrne was for three years a member of its board of aldermen. In politics he is an ardent sup-

porter of the Populist party and has been an active worker in the cause, being at the present time a member of the state central committee, and served as delegate to various state conventions. He is a man of fine presence, is genial and affable, and is popular and well known throughout the state. In his official capacity Mr. Byrne makes his home in the capital city. In the year 1888 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Byrne to Miss Mary Patton, who was born in Madison county, Mont., the daughter of James and Hannah Patton, numbered among the pioneers of the state, her father having come to Alder gulch in 1863. Our subject and his wife have three children-Joseph, Mary and Anna.

DR. C. A. BRADY, one of the recognized lead- ing physicians and surgeons of Montana, is a resident of Great Falls. He was born on May 31, 1863, in county of Huntington, P. Q., Canada. He is a brother of Hon. T. E. Brady, who is men- tioned elsewhere in this work. Dr. Brady brings to the aid of his profession superior accomplishments in the way of educational acquirements. On leav- ing the public schools he entered the college of St. Theresa, from which he was graduated, and he was then matriculated at the Grand Seminary of Mon- treal. from which he was graduated with the class of 1886. He then entered Victoria College of Phy- sicians and Surgeons. From here he graduated in 1890, standing third in a class of fifty-four. The same year he began medical practice at Churubusco, N. Y., remaining there until February, 1891, when he came to Barker, Mont., and was appointed sur- geon of the miners' union.

Dr. Brady then located at Great Falls, where he has met with unqualified success. For three years Dr. Brady was connected with the city health office and he served for two years as cor- oner. He is a member of the North Montana Medical Association, also a member of the State Medical Society. He was county physician for four years, from 1894 to 1898. Dr. Brady holds a diploma from the Victoria Medical College en- dorsed by New York and also by Montana.

In 1890 Dr. Brady was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Ryan, of Montreal, Canada. They have three children, Laura M., Charles E. and William J. Since coming to Great Falls Dr. Brady has built up a most lucrative practice and made a host of warm personal friends. He is a

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

man of great force of character and of broad, pro- gressive views. In the welfare of his home town he ever manifests a lively interest, and he is highly esteemed by its citizens.

BSALOM F. BRAY .- Ours is an utilitarian A

age, and the life of every successful business man bears a lesson which, as told in contemporary narration, is, perhaps, productive of the greatest good. In preparing this sketch of Mr. Bray, one of the eminently successful business men of the state, who is held in the highest estimation in his home city of Butte, we are entering a record which stands in justification of compilations of this na- ture. Absalom Francis Bray is a native of the County Cornwall, England, and he possesses the sturdy qualities of the Cornishmen, who are char- acterized by independence of thought and action, determinate industry and inflexible integrity. The family is an old-time Cornish one. Mr. Bray was born on October 21, 1852, the eldest of the seven children of Hastings and Jane Bray. Both Hast- ings Bray and his wife passed their useful lives in Cornwall. They were devoted members of the Methodist church. Educated in the public schools, the first individual effort (aside from such aid as he had rendered on the homestead farm) made by Mr. Bray was when he was a lad of thirteen years, when he entered as a clerk a dry goods establish- ment in Truro, England. Here he gained a prac- tical and intimate knowledge of business methods. He continued to be identified with merchandising until he was twenty-four, when, in 1876, he came to the United States to attend the Centen- nial exposition. After satiating himself with sight seeing, and reducing his available financial re- sources to a minimum, he determined to remain in the United States, and went to Texas, where his first employment was at railroad work, at $1.25 per day. Later he found employment as a contractor for the government, in the construction of levees in Mississippi. This enterprise enlisted his atten- tion for nine years. In 1884 his health became seriously impaired, and he was incapacitated for active business for a year, when he located in Butte, which is still his home and his business headquar- ters. Mr. Bray's illness necessarily entailed consid- erable financial loss, and on arriving at Butte his capital was less than $3,000. He opened a modest grocery on upper Main street, where the Murray

Bank is now located, and there continued opera- tions for a year, when he purchased the stock of groceries owned by Craddock & Co., and secured more eligible headquarters on Main street, oppo- site the postoffice. About a year later he pur- chased the stock and business of E. J. Maul & Co., and conducted his ever-increasing business for an- other year, when failing health compelled him to retire, and he disposed of his merchandising and passed a year in Oakland, Cal. The business ca- reer of Mr. Bray in Montana has been one of con- secutive advancement, and this is a pertinent fact, since it indicates the sterling integrity of the man, his unvarying courtesy and his marked business sagacity and executive ability.

Upon returning to Butte, in 1887, Mr. Bray pur- chased the grocery stock and business of Battin- ger & Co., and, under the name of the Butte Cash Grocery, opened an attractive and well-equipped establishment at the corner of Wyoming and Park streets, where he conducted a most successful re- tail business until 1896, when he enlarged its scope by adding a wholesale department, in which he has since continued. The business now extends into all sections of the state and is one of the most im- portant commercial industries of Montana. The stock carried is ever select and comprehensive, thus insuring satisfaction to its patrons throughout its extended territory. The wholesale grocery busi- ness of Mr. Bray in Butte is among the first in the state, and the annual transactions of the house now reach an average of one million dollars. Such success in any line of legitimate enterprise shows business ability and brain in its inception and con- ducting, and places their possessor high among the financial powers of the day.

In his political adherency Mr. Bray supports the Republican party. He was elected a member of the First legislature of the state, and was chosen as his own successor for the Second assembly, in which he had the distinction of serving as speaker pro ten1. He was also chairman of the commit- tee on state institutions, the locations of which were fixed during the Second legislative assembly. In his fraternal relations Mr. Bray is identified with the Masonic order, in which he has taken the mas- ter's degree ; with the Knights of Pythias ; the A. O. U. W., the B. P. O. E., and the sons of St. George. On October 9, 1885, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Bray to Miss Nelia Inez Cope- land, who was born in Illinois, the daughter of John W. Copeland. Of their seven children four

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

are living, A. F. Bray, Jr., Nelia Inez, Frances and

- Dorothy. Mrs. Bray died 011 October 29, 1899. She

is mourned by a large circle of friends to whom she had endeared herself, while the bereavement · rests most heavily upon her own household.

C BRECKINRIDGE BOYLE, M. D .- In the ancestry of Dr. Cornelius Breckinridge Boyle, of Gebo, Mont., the pioneers of Virginia and the res- olute founders of New England are mingled with sturdy Irish stock of distinguished lineage. His grandfather, John Boyle, scion of a family long prominent and influential in County Antrim, Ire- land, immigrated to the United States about 1800, locating at Washington, D. C. In 1804 he was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Burke, the nuptials being solemnized at Baltimore, Md., by Archbishop Carroll. John Boyle became con- nected with the Navy Department, and served for more than thirty-five years in leading positions, most of the time as chief clerk, and partly as acting secretary. He died in Washington in 1849, at the age of seventy-two, leaving, with other children, a son, Dr. Cornelius Boyle, who became eminent in the District of Columbia as one of its leading physicians and most substantial and influential cit- izens. In 1844 he was graduated from the medi- cal department of Columbian University, Washing- ton, D. C., and was actively and prominently en- gaged in the practice of his profession until 1861, when he enlisted in the Confederate army, rose rapidly and became provost marshal general of the Army of Northern Virginia with the rank of major, under Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, and after the death of that gallant soldier at Shiloh, under Gen. R. E. Lee, the Doctor being one of the few men in the service whom the great commander honored with an autograph letter of commenda- tion for skill and fidelity, in the discharge of duty. This Dr. Boyle had a brother, Junius I. Boyle, a commodore in the United States navy and a men- ber of the famous Perry expedition to Japan. He died in the United States hospital at Portsmouth, Va., in 1871, having been retired a few years pre- vious for disability. At the close of the war Dr. Boyle went to Mexico and took charge of the busi- ness of an English colonization scheme under the auspices of the English banking house of Baron, Forbes & Co. Owing to the death of Mr. Bar- ron, the enterprise was abandoned, and the Doctor

returned to Virginia. In 1871, having received amnesty from the government by special act of congress, he returned to Washington and con- tinued the practice of medicine until his death in 1878. In 1852 he was married to Miss Frances Reynolds Greene, of Virginia, a daughter of Wil- liam Dabney Greene, of that state, and grand- daughter of Thomas Greene, of Rhode Island, whose forefather, James Greene, came to America from England in 1636 and settled in Massachusetts, but soon after left that province as a follower of Roger Williams, whom he helped found what is now the state of Rhode Island. From him were also descended Gen. Nathaniel Greene and Gen. John Morley Greene, of Revolutionary fame.

Dr. C. Breckinridge Boyle was born at Gordons- ville, Va., June 24, 1864. He received his schol- astic training in the public schools of Washing- ton, D. C., and on laying aside his textbooks ac- cepted employment on the United States geolog- ical survey, with headquarters at the national mu- seum in Washington, where he remained six years. In the meantime he engaged in the study of medi- cine at Columbian University and was graduated from that institution with the degree of M. D. in 1891. He immediately began practice in Wash- ington, D. C., being connected with the Children's Hospital and the Emergency Hospital. At the time of his resignation from the geological survey the Doctor was assistant paleontologist, and was author of Bulletin No. 102, on Fossil Shells, pub- lished in 1893. He went to Hot Springs, S. D., in 1894, and remained there two years practicing his profession. He then accepted a position on the medical staff of the Homestake Mine Hospital at Lead, S. D., which he filled until August, 1898. In the fall of that year he came to Montana, lo- cating at Gebo, where he has since resided. He is official physician to the Clarke Fork Coal Min- ing Company at Gebo, and has a large practice in the surrounding country.

On March 18, 1897, he was married to Miss Ce- cilia DuHamel, a daughter of Dr. W. J. C. Du- Hamel, a leading physician of Washington, D. C. Mrs. Boyle's father was a native of Baltimore, Md., and her mother was Miss Elizabeth Hill Kennedy of Alexandria, Va. The DuHamels were French Huguenots, who came to America early in the eighteenth century and were conspicuous in the history of the country through Colonial and Revo- lutionary times. The Hills and Seths, ancestors of Mrs. Boyle, made proud records for gallantry

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

and fine soldierly qualities in the Revolution, and one of her maternal ancestors, Henry Hill, fitted out a company of troops at his own expense, and with it rendered valuable service throughout that struggle. Dr. Boyle is examining physician for a number of old line insurance companies and bene- ficial societies. He has high standing as a physi- cian and surgeon, and is universally esteemed as a citizen.

PETER BREEN .- Coming into the world amid stirring times, Peter Breen was born in John- son county, Kan., on October 5, 1860, just after the bloody struggle over slavery in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, which were clamoring for admission into the Union. His father, Law- rence Breen, a native of Ireland, emigrated to America when he was twelve years old, and set- tled in Vermont and later in New York. From there he removed to Chicago before there was any railroad to that city and later was married in Wis- consin to Miss Kate Dillon, also of Irish birth. They took up their residence on a Kansas farm and were there during all of the contest there for supremacy between the slavery and anti-slavery forces. Later they removed to Illinois, and when the Civil war broke out the father enlisted as a Union soldier in Company E, Ninety-fifth Illinois Infantry, in which he served with commendable courage. Peter Breen was the second of eight children. He received a good common-school educa- tion in Illinois and Iowa, and when he was nine- teen left his father's home in Iowa, made his way to Colorado, and secured employment at railroad- ing. He was a locomotive fireman for awhile, and then engaged in driving a mule team in the mountains. After many months of this service, he went to Leadville, and worked at the smelting furnaces during the winter and prospected during the summer. In 1884 he went to Couer d'Alene, Idaho, at the height of its gold excitement, but finding the snow too deep for him to profitably work, equipped as he was, he went to Spokane for horses, with which he returned and went to pros- pecting. He lost all he had and went to Butte, arriving there June 20, 1884. He worked at the Old Belle smelter until fall when he went to Ana- conda and remained during the winter. The next spring he went to the Flathead valley and located several ranches, but soon sold them and returned to Anaconda, where, there and in Jefferson county,

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 14

Author: Bowen, A.W., & Co., firm, publishers, Chicago Publication date: [19-?] Publisher: Chicago : A. W. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 1374

Author: Bowen, A.W., & Co., firm, publishers, Chicago
Publication date: [19-?]
Publisher: Chicago : A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1374